Connecting means to be used for tufting mattresses and similar operations



Feb. 27, 1940. A. FRIDOLPH 2,192,161

CONNECTING MEANS TO BE USED FOR TUFTING MATTRES-SES AND SIMILAR OPERATIONS Filed om 25, 193e 2 sheets-sheet 1 .Ffa/6. I @wz ATTORNEYS Feb. 27,- 1940.

A. FRIDOLPH CONNECTING MEANS TO BE USED FOR TUFTING MATTRESSES AND SIMILAR OPERATIONS Filed Oct. 25, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ffa/Z l' INVENTOR BY 3. f/VM ATTORNEYS l Patented Feb. 27, 19420 UN1T1-:D STATES PATENT 'oF-FICE:

. Y#492.1111 f comerme mams 1ro as usan r'oa 'mmc Harnesses UPERATIONS 1 Amas rampa New York, N. Y., assigner a A. B. A. Specialties Company, Inc., New York.

Y., a corporation of New York Applicion mbe! 23, 1936 Scflll N0. 1.7,122y

11 Claiins.v

Thisinventlon relates to improvements in connecting or fastening elements which may be med for tufting mattresses, upholstery and the 111m.A

A futher object isthe prov1s1on of s. tufting element which may be applied in one simple' operation. Another object is the provision of a fastening or attaching element to be used in place of a buttony or other fastening elenient, which may beused with abutton, ornamental head or similar articles, if desired. This application is in part a division of my co-pending application ser. No. 542,799 filed June 8, 1931, on Method of tufting and articles therefor. 2

I Y'I'o-tlie accomplishment of the foregoing and such other objects as may hereinafter appear, this invention consists in the truction, combination andA arrangements of hereinafter described and then sought to be defined in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming apart' hereof and which show, merely for the purposes of illustrative disclosure, several embodiments of my invention, it being 'expressly understo od,.h1ow ever, that various changes may be made in pra tice within the scope of the claims without di gressing from my inventive idea.

In the drawings-v Figure 1 represents a perspective view of one fmrm of tufting element.

Figure 2 represents a 'perspective view of other formof tufting element.

' Figure 3 is a vertical transverse cross section,

taken along line 3-3 of Figure 2. 4D Figure i is a similar. slightly modined form.

' .Figures 5 and (iy are detailed views showing a` modified form of tuftingbutton attached` to the tufting element. Y

Figures 7 and 8 are detailedV views showing another modied form of tufting button attached to the tufting element.

Figure 9 is a vertical cross section stantially on line 9-9 of Figure 1.

Figure 10 is a perspective view of another form of tufting button.

/ Figure 11 illustrates in perspective the initial .steps in the method of -forming anotherv form 1of `tufting element.

Figure 12 is a vertical cross section through l en subcross section showing a' the tufting element and article formed from the parts shown in Figure 11.

Figure 13 is a similar cross section cf'a modified construction. Figure 14 is a perspective view of another modi- 5 fication of tufting element. -v Figure 15 is a perspective view of one form oi' tufting needle or device used to apply tufting articles coming within this invention.

Figure 16 is adiagrammatic view of an article .1 such as a mattress, which has beentufted by.

the use of the tufting element disclosedherei'n.

Y Figure 17 is a verticaLcross section of'a globular form of tufting button showing the tufting element in the process of being inserted therein.

tFigure 18 is a side elevation of the completed tufting article andelement' shown in Figure 17.

Figure 19 is a side elevation of the tufting article with another form of button secured thereto.

Figure 20 is an slevation at right angles to n the view shown in Figure 19. y.

Figures21 and22arevimsimilartoFigures 19 and 20 of another modification.

Figures 23 and 24 are' side elevations of other s forms of tufting elements with other forms of tufting buttons or articles secured thereto. Figures 25, 26 and 27 are diagrammatic views illustrating the use of tufting articles and` buttonssuchas showninFigures21 and 22. 'w Figures 28 and 29 are views in elevation of adl ,ditional modifications of tufting elements and tufting buttons.

Figures'30, 31 and 32 are perspective views oildifierent embodiments of my invention in connectingand tufting' elements. L It haslong been-standard practice in tuftingV 'mattresses upholstery and'the like.' to use a loop or tape or twine and securebuttons, clasps, pieces of`- lea' and other 'articles to these loops to prevent` the cutting or tearing of the fabric and to give'mt;r mnh ed and ornamental appearance to the ting element. The/operationV of applying these ornamental articles to the tufting elements has been'vslow 4,5 and tedious and laborious, and has always addedmaterially to .thefxpense of tufting mattresses.

and the like.V `It is the of this invention to provide. new forms of tufting assemblies'which 'may be 50 used in accordance-with my new method dis- -closed in' my co-'pem'ling application. whereby the tufting operation is simplified and cheapened. The result is a much stronger product'having long. life and 'wear and which may -be varied by the addition of buttons andthe like for purposes of ornamentation and appearance in many ways.

'Ihe general method of tufting which I have disclosed in my co-pending application comprises the use of a tufting assembly including a tufting element which is designated generally by the reference character I, and which has secured or providedon each end thereof the tufting head 2, see Figure 16 of the drawings. The structure of this tufting element I and the tufting heads 2 and. various modifications thereof will be described later. In Figure 15, I show a needle or tufting device 3 for applying the tufting element in proper position and for accomplishing the tufting operation. 'I'his needle is elongated and provided with 'the sharp point 4, the head or `handle 5 and the elongated slot or recess 6 in `portions ofthe tufting element 8':

its lower portion. The tufting heads 2 are preferably formed transversely of the ends of the element I, and the tufting element I is restricted in cross section with respect to the width of the tufting head4 and may be in the form of a twine,

.tape or even metallic member.

drivenfentirely through the article being tufted, and the tufting. element `I placed in the position indicated in dotted lines in Figure 15.L The tufting needle is' then withdrawn from the article being tufted andy the lowermost tufting article or head 2'will engage the underside of the mattress or other article 'I being tufted and when the upper tufting article or head 2 is released it will engage the upper surface of the mattress.

j Sumcient pressure and tension are used in operation to give the desired tufting appearance as indicated diagrammatically in Figure 16. It is seen by the practice of this method, the applica-t tion 'of each tufting element is a'simple, single operation and may be accomplished quickly and expeditiously in a minimum amount of time by unskilled labor, and with absolute security.

Y This method maybe utilized with various forms element is preferably constructed substantially as shown in Figure 1 having the tape or fabric body 8 and the stlffened head 9. This head 9 ts in a-suitable recess or opening I3 formed in a button member I4, the tape 8 passing entirely therethrough in a restricted opening or slot whereby the head 9 engages the shoulders formed by the restricted opening or slot entering into the recess 'I3. 'I'his structure, of course, provides for considerable variety from the standpoint of ornamentationv and decoration, and has the advantage of ready detachability.

In the forms shown in Figures '11 and 12, the structure is quite similar to v.that shown in Figures l, 2 and 3, ,the most important difference being that the tufting'element I5 is formed of a tube of suitable fabric and into one end of which a piece of 'metal or other suitable materiall I6 is inserted and. then bent into the form shown in Figure 12 so that. the fabric is infolded within and covers the bent metallic member I6. This forms an integral tight connection which is very strong and of long life, the parts being folded and clamped together. v

of tufting assemblies according to the present invention, and attention will first be directed to Figure 1, in which the tufting element is preferably 'in the form of a tape 8 having the tufting articles or heads 9 atV each end. 'I'hese heads are preferably formed by means of a stiff chan- 'neled member 'I0 `which may be made of metal or other suitable material, and in' which and around which is clamped and folded the en d portion of the tape 8, see Figur'e 9 particularly. In

this form, the tufting head is completely covi ered by the fabric of the tufting element and the channel shaped stii member I0 is permanently 'and securely fastened to the tape so that the tufting element and vits tufting headsform an integral structure.

The construction shown in Figure -2 is quite similar toA that of Figure 1 with the exception that the tufting vhead 9'v is flattened, 'the cross section of Figure 3 showing the arrangement of the stiff element I|Jand the foldedA andinfolded Figure 4 illustrates an additional variation in which the tufting elements" is similar and in which the tufting head 9" is similar, differing yonly in the shape of the stiened memberv IIl'v which gives the tufting head a somewhat differ' ent 'appearance In the form shown in Figures 5, 6, 7, and 8, the tufting element is designated generally by the referencel character I I, and `to the end thereof In theform shown'infFigure 13, the tufting element I'I is tubular or two-ply andinas the interior stiening element I8 and the exterior stiffening element -I9 which are .bent or clamped, as shown, to provide la tufting article., or head having an exterior metal surface which may be ornamented and decorated as desired. The initerior and exterior stiening elements may be provided or formed by using a tubular shaped metal member through which the fabricgelement II may be passed or threaded before the metal member is bent or clamped thereon. Furtherf more, the interior stiening element I8 may be omitted vand the exterior element I9 used alone by clamping the same around its respective end of the tufting eleme'n't I1. y

In Figure 14 vis shown a further modification in which the'fabric tufting element 20 is folded or coiled at its ends. to form heads 2|, which may be .dipped into a suitable liquid or other compound lsuch as liguid'cement, which, when it hardens provides the stiifened tufting article or head 22 at each end.

' In Figures 17 and 18, I show a tufting or fastening element, 'substantially a's shownin Figures 1 and 9, that is, it has-the tape or other fabric member 8 and the stiffened head 9.' A suitable ornamental button 23 is provided with a slot or 'opening 24 through which the stiffened head 9 is inserted. 'This opening is less in diameter than the length of the stiifened head 9, and consequently the latter is securely locked therein when positioned in its..normal crosswise position' show n in dotted lines in Figure 18.

In Figures 19 and-20, thesame^structure of tufting or fastening 4element is utilized, as described in'connection with Figures 1'7 and 18. In this connection the ornamental button 25 is provldedwith a groove or socket 26 in its underside'.75"'

into vwhich the stii'fened head of thetufting ele.- to the other end. The member 58 is provided Iornamentalbutton 28 which is provided with a loop of wire or other suitable material 29' less in width than the length of the stiirened head member 9 so that the latter may be inserted therein and securely held when in crosswise position as clearly shown in Figure 22.

`In Figure 23, the tufting element 3l is provided with an eyelet si near itsV end which is adapted to receive the' hook I2 formed in the metal member 33 depending from the ornamental button 34. In Figure 24, the tufting element 35 is formed of a coil. orV spiral spring having a hook 35 at oneor'both ends adapted .to pass through the eye 31 providedby the loop 38 of wire or other suitable material depending fromf the ornamental button $9.

In Figure 28, the tufting element 4I! is in the form of a suitable exible material having a knot or enlarged knob 4l formed or provided atone or both 'ends to prevent the withdrawal of the tufting' element 40 from the eye or eyes 42 provided by the loop or loops or hooks 43 of wire or other suitable material depending from the ornamental buttons 44. In Figure 29 the tufting element 45 has a hook'member 46 secured to one or both ends which is adapted to pass Vthrough vthe eye 41 formed by the loop 4l of metal or other. suitable material depending from button 49.

Figures 25, 26 and 27 illustrate my method inl connection withthe structure shown inl Figures 21 and 22. The top button IB/is first placed' upon cessi is exposed beyond the un r surface thereo'f. Then one of-the stil! tuf heads l of the tufting element l is placed within the slot orrecess 6 of the needle and the other stiff tufting .head1 is passed through the loop 2l of the second button 2,8. The tufting' needle is then withdrawn through the mattress 1 until the slotor recess is exposed beyond the upper surface thereof and the first mentioned' tufting head I through the loop 29 of the first mentioned button 24, when it is released and the parts assume the podtion shown' in Figure 27. This merely shows Vthe use of ornamental buttons in connection with the practice of my method.

In Figure 30 the tufting element is composed of an elongated body l of tape or other suitable flexible or resilient material having one end provided with a stiifened head il which maybesimilar in 'construction to the head shown in" numerous of the previous gures of the drawings. Such as 1, 2, 3, 4, 9, 12,13, 14 and others. To the other end of the body a button or similar member means of a rivet, clamp, `or other holding meml Intheformshown'inFigure 31 thebodyiiof the device is in the form of a suitable double length of material having the connecting or tufting head 51 secured to lone-end and having. the ornamentalbutton head or the like Il secured with a.- depending loop 59 through which the closed *loop end 60 of the body 56 is looped or tied.

Figure 32 is a view of the same main element as shown in Figure 31 without the button or otherhead secured to the end thereof. It is of course adapted to be used with either the button head or some of the well-known forms of fastening or .attaching elements in generall use.

I have referred to the stiffened head in its various forms as a tufting lor,fasteniiig element cr article complete inv itself, and it is to be understood'that it lmay serve generally as a means for effectively and conveniently holding a button `or other ornamental member.

It is to be noted that the disclosure of this invention includes the provision of a tufting ele- I ends. A j" It is to be expressly understood, that,'while I have shown and described a number of uses, con-- structions, modifications and varieties ofthese articles of manufacture, there are many other constructions). and uses which come within my .e broad invention and can'be used in the practice of my method. Y

What I claim is: Y

1. A completely preformed vtufting assembly for tufting mattresses, upholstery and the like, which comprises an elongated tufting element or body with. a substantial stiffy tufting head permanently secured on each end thereof.

2. A completely preformed tufting assemb for tufting mattresses, upholstery and the like, comprising an elongated tufting element or body having a, substantial sti tuftingliead permanently provided on the end-thereof, and an ornamental fastening element such as a button or the like Vprovided with means for receiving'said tufting head so that said element may be held thereof and adapted to pass through the bodyy 'by its engagement with said tuftlng head against the face of the article being tufted.

being tufted, each head including a' stiif bendable member to which the end part of said body is clamped and within which part of thebody is folded.

4. As an article of manufacture, a tufting eielike, in cluding an elongated tufting element or body having a substantial stiff head on each end thereof and adapted to pass through the body being tufted, each head including a stiff bendable member to which the end part of said body is clamped and within which part of the body is folded, said stiff bendable -member being fiat- `tened so as to form a flattened channel and provide a head of relative substantial area.

5. As an article of manufacture, a tufting as sembly for tufting mattresses, upholstery andthe like, which includes an elongated flexible tufting element or body having a substantial stiff tuft- V ment for tufting mattresses, upholstery and the ing head permanently secured to one end of said nection is provided between thebody and said tufting head.

6. A preformed connecting or tufting assembly which comprises an elongated body of denite length formed of flexible material and having a Itufting head permanently secured to each end thereof, one, at least, of said tufting heads being of a nature to be threaded through a body to be tufted.

7. A preformed connecting or tufting assembly which comprises a tufting element or body'in the form of a loop of flexible material, saidbody having a substantial stiff tufting head perinanently secured to one end thereof, of a nature to be threaded through a body to be tufted, and another tuting head permanently secured to the other end of said body.

8. As article of manufacture, a complete preformed. in two tuting heads permanently connected to' gether by an elongated exible tufting element or body, said heads when in normal position being too large in size to pass 'through the hole in the article being tufted which is occupied by said tufting element or body, one o said tufting heads when in an abnormal position being adapted to be passed through the article being tufted and. said hole with said4 tufting element or body and itary tuti-ing assembly consisting of then to assume its normal position transverse to said hole..

9. The combination with a mattress or similar article of upholstering, of tufting assemblies therethrough, ,each of a preformed unitary character including an elongated flexible tufting element o f a denite preformed length, having substantially stii tufting heads permanently in connection therewithatits opposite ends.

10. The combination of an article of upholstering such as a mattress, and tufting assemblies therethrough, each assembly being completely preformed and unitary in character, including an .ing assembly in connection therewith and of a preformed unitary nature including an elongated flexible tufting element of denitey preformed length passing through said lledcasing, and

tufting heads permanently in connection withgi,a

the ends of said tufting element and disposed at the opposite faces of the casing.

ANNEITE 

